PAOK gets bigger with Balaban

PAOK Thessaloniki added depth to its frontcourt by signing big man Darko Balaban for the upcoming season. Balaban (2.10 meters, 26 years old) spent last season with SZTE Szedeak in Hungary where he averaged 21 points, on just below 60% shooting, along with 8.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Balaban grew up with Sport Key Novi Sad in his native Serbia, then moved as an 17-year old to Partizan Belgrade where he spent the next three seasons, winning a pair of triple crowns with the club, but did not play much. He transferred to arch-rival Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade where he spent one season, and played for Mega Vizura and BKK Radnicki Belgrade during 2011-12 campaign. In the past three seasons he also played for Mures Targu in Romania, Vrsac and Smederevo in Serbia, as well as Feni Industria Kavadarci in FYR Macedonia. Balaban is set to make his Eurocup debut this season.